We few, we elite few, we band of brothers

Longtime readers know that I certainly found nothing inappropriate by such comments, other than the failure to understand that speaking freely to people you don't know may fuel the Mighty Wurlitzer of Outrage.

And Krugthug's view on blogs pretty much mirrors mine.

Some have asked if there aren’t conservative sites I read regularly. Well, no. I will read anything I’ve been informed about that’s either interesting or revealing; but I don’t know of any economics or politics sites on that side that regularly provide analysis or information I need to take seriously. I know we’re supposed to pretend that both sides always have a point; but the truth is that most of the time they don’t. The parties are not equally irresponsible; Rachel Maddow isn’t Glenn Beck; and a conservative blog, almost by definition, is a blog written by someone who chooses not to notice that asymmetry. And life is short …

So, cue the (commercial) forces of anti-elitism!

As for efforts to cut funding for NPR, NPR receives a relatively small portion of its funding from taxpayers, but many local stations -- especially rural ones -- depend on it.

And I'm reminded of a conversation I had with someone outraged (there it is again) that my company was sponsoring an NPR program. I asked him, if NPR so outraged him, why did he listen to it. He explained that his job required driving in parts of the country in which local NPR stations were the only thing on the radio.

It'd sure be a shame if Congress eliminated such funding and the only things that guy could listen to were the voices in his head.

Fair and deluded

Shorter Pantload: They probably print conservative stuff too, but how can NPR.org be fair and balanced if they print hysterical lefty rants about soccer?

Via Roy.

The WaPo starts the new year as it ended the old one: hackishly

Broder: Janet Napolitano exudes quiet confidence and she's really competent. She's my kind of "run down the middle" pol.

Krauthammer: Napolitano is a fool and an incompetent and Obama's linguistic war on the word "war" will get us all killed.

Kristol: Because Thomas Jefferson said a lot of stuff about the evil of tyranny, Obama has to do something about Iranian internal unrest.

"Shorter" is the trademark of blah, blah, blah...I am aware of all internet traditions.

Happy New Year.

A series of newer tubes!

I wanted to visit the new gop.com site and riff on it, but it seems to be down/loading too slow...so, site unseen (pun intended), here's the top ten reasons it meets the Epic Fail standard.

Ben Stein's ignorance

Shorter Ben Stein: We should emit more carbon, not less.

Hitman

Yes, Ed Whelan is a dick. There really isn't a whole lot more to say on the subject. I strive very, very hard not to run afoul of my employer when I blog, and I self-censure in an attempt to avoid topics that concern my employer's business. But...I recognize that my politics tend to run a little to the left of most of the people for whom I work. So, I choose to post anonymously. It's not because I fear that my family and friends will find out that I regularly write incomprehensible blather. They're well aware of that by now. It's because I like my job and the benefits that come with having one, and because I don't want to make uncomfortable the people with whom I work based on my politics.

To "out" a blogger who chooses anonymity, and thus threaten that blogger's livelihood, is reprehensible. Ed Whelan is paid to be a willful asshole. Publius provides thoughtful analysis as a hobby.

UPDATE: Whelan proves himself to be not so much a dick as he does the right thing.